Hot beverage maker with cup-actuated, low-drip dispenser

ABSTRACT

A hot beverage maker has a stand, fresh water chamber, a brewed beverage tank, and an actuator means for dispensing brewed beverages. The tank includes a filter basket, a reservoir portion, and an outlet port. The reservoir portion is adapted to hold a brewed liquid, and the outlet port is positioned in substantially the bottom of the reservoir portion. The dispenser actuator means is connected to the outlet port and is biased to a closed position, but may be moved to an open position by a vessel for holding a hot beverage. The dispenser actuator includes a plug that further includes a stem and a seal ring mounted on the stem. The bottom of the stem has a substantially inverted conical shape.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/403,438, filed Mar. 31, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,960; which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/011,759, filed Dec. 11,2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,975. This application claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/439,100, filed Jan. 10, 2003.Each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein.

This invention relates to a convenient hot beverage maker having acup-actuated dispenser thereby allowing a user to dispense any amount ofbeverage desired. The dispenser further includes a low-drip, actuatormechanism that reduces or prevents excess drippage of brewed beverageafter the dispenser shut-off valve shuts off flow from a reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types and styles of hot beverage makers, especially coffee makers,are known and have been sold for many years. The standard components inthese coffee makers include a stand or tower that has a warming plate onthe bottom and a filter basket at the top. The coffee maker furtherincludes a carafe that rests on the warming plate and below the filterbasket in order to receive brewed liquid from the filter basket.

A problem with traditional coffee makers is the mess that results fromusing the coffee maker. A user must clean both the carafe and filterbasket after each use. Further, if there is no automatic pause and servefeature, then a user must wait for an entire batch to run beforeremoving the carafe to pour a cup of coffee. Even after the batch isrun, there may be additional drips that would spill onto the hot warmingplate once a carafe is removed for pouring. Also, if a carafe is notproperly aligned under a filter basket, it could cause spillage andwaste as the hot coffee does not completely flow from the filter basketand into the carafe. Inevitably, a warming plate becomes dirty withoverflow or excess dripage, thereby causing an unappealing aroma.

Also, the use of a carafe is an extra step in the coffee making process.It is another component to place in a dishwasher or fill storage space.While a carafe is likely desirable if a user is pouring numerous cups,it typically takes two hands to pour a single cup of coffee—one hand forthe cup and one hand for the carafe. Also, it is possible to cause asplash or spillage simply in the removal or reinserting process of thecarafe into and out of the coffee maker stand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theforegoing drawbacks and provide a hot beverage maker having acup-actuated dispenser. This way, a carafe becomes unnecessary. Also, auser can easily dispense only as much coffee into a cup or mug as theuser desires by using a single hand. The clean up process is simplified.All of the potential issues and problems related to using a carafedisappear.

In one embodiment, a hot beverage maker comprises a stand, a fresh waterchamber, a brewed beverage tank, and actuator means for dispensing abrewed beverage. The tank comprises a filter basket, a reservoirportion, and an outlet port. The reservoir portion is adapted to hold abrewed liquid, and the outlet port is positioned at substantially thebottom of the reservoir portion. The dispenser actuator means isconnected to the outlet port. The actuator means is biased to a closedposition but may be moved to an open position by a vessel for holding ahot beverage. Still further, the dispenser actuator means may comprise apush-button positioned in the stand below the brewed beverage tank.Also, there may be a linkage connecting the push-button to the outletport. In a further alternative, the brewed beverage tank is removablefrom the stand. Also, the fresh water chamber may comprise transparentwalls that allow the user to observe the fresh water level in thechamber. Also, alternatively, the brewed beverage tank may comprise atransparent window to allow a user to observe the brewed beverage levelin the tank.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a coffee makerin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the coffee maker shown in FIG. 1 withthe lid in the open position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the coffee maker shown in FIGS. 1 and 2with the brew tank removed and with the lid in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, cross sectional view of the coffee makershown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side elevation cross sectional views detailing thedispenser actuator mechanism in accordance with a preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a brewtank and filter basket.

FIG. 8 is a series of views of a lever mechanism in accordance with analternative of a dispenser for use with a hot beverage maker asdescribed herein. The views A-F are top plan, front elevation, bottom,top perspective, side elevation, and bottom perspective viewsrespectively.

FIG. 9 is a series of views of the same lever arm shown in FIG. 8 alsoincluding the sealing ring mounted within the plug.

FIG. 10 is a pair of diagrams, side elevation and perspective viewsrespectively, of an alternative dispenser actuator mechanism inaccordance with the present invention when in the closed position.

FIG. 11 are side elevation and perspective views of the same dispenseractuator mechanism shown in FIG. 10 except that the mechanism is in theopen position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a coffee maker that is a preferredembodiment of the present invention. Naturally, a design engineer havingordinary skill with the assembly of coffee makers will be able to createa coffee maker that incorporates the teachings of the present invention,but which may look different and incorporate different, alternativeparts. It is the cup-actuated dispenser that makes the unit veryconvenient and very different from existing coffee makers that include,for instance, a carafe and other components unnecessary in the presentinvention.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a coffee maker 10 that is made upof a stand 11, fresh water reservoir 12, brewed beverage tank 13, and alid 14. The stand 11 forms the base of coffee maker 10 and supports thereservoir 12 and tank 13. The stand 11 includes a recess 20 in which issituated a push-button 21. Adjacent to recess 20 are the electricalswitches 22 that operate the coffee maker 10 and allow the user to, forinstance, program a start time or set the time of the clock 23. Ofcourse, these electrical switches 22 may be analog or digital. Fewer ormore controls may be applicable for a given model of coffee maker.

The fresh water reservoir 12 has transparent sidewalls 30. Thetransparent sidewalls 30 allow users to easily and immediately determinewhether and how much fresh water is in the coffee maker 10. Of course,nontransparent walls may be used, or a vertical window slot could beused. A water level indicator may also facilitate the ability of a userto accurately gauge the water volume.

The fresh water reservoir 12 rests on the stand 11. The fresh waterreservoir 12 wraps partially around the brewed beverage tank 13. Thebrewed beverage tank 13 also rests on the stand 11. The brewed beveragetank 13 has a transparent window 25 which allows a user to observe veryeasily and quickly how much brewed beverage is contained within the tank13. Finally, a lid 14 is rotatably connected to back wall of thereservoir 12. The lid 14 is adapted to cover both the fresh waterreservoir 12 and the brewed beverage tank 13.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 except that the lid 14 is rotated up to theopen position in FIG. 2. With the lid 14 open, there can be seen aremovable filter basket 40 that is mountable with the brewed beveragetank 13. The showerhead 35 is connected to the lid 14 and rotates up anddown with the lid. Support arm 36 is a channel connecting the showerhead35 to the hot water tube shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is a still further view of the coffee maker 10 wherein the brewedbeverage tank has been removed. The stand 11 includes a platform 50which is adapted to support the brewed beverage tank shown in the otherfigures. The apertures 37 on the bottom of the showerhead 35 allow forthe even distribution of water into the filter basket when theshowerhead/lid is in the down position. The end of the arm portion 36 ofthe showerhead 35 includes an aperture 38. When the lid 14 is rotatedopen, the aperture 38 rotates around and diverts the flow of hot waterback into the fresh water reservoir 12.

The platform 50 includes a warmer plate 51 which is adapted to engagethe bottom of the brewed beverage tank to keep a brewed beverage insidethe tank warm. The platform 50 is molded in part into a recess that isadapted to receive in a mating fashion the molded male portion 110 (seeFIG. 7) of the bottom of a brew tank. In this mating relationship, thetank is properly aligned and retained in position in the stand 11.Referring briefly back to FIG. 2, hooks 42 engage the top of the freshwater tank walls 30 to work with the male portion 110 to properlyposition the tank 13 on the stand 11. Finally, the platform 50 includesan aperture 53 from which protrudes a lever that makes up part of thedispenser actuator. (See FIGS. 4-6).

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the coffee maker 10 that provides aview of the operational components of the coffee maker. The portions ofthe coffee maker 10 not previously shown include the water tube 60 whichcarries heated water from the hot water heater element 61 up to the pipe62 and then showerhead 35 via the arm 36. The top of the pipe 62 ishingedably connected to the end of the arm 36. The arm 36 includes anaperture 38 which is aligned with an opening to the pipe 62 when theshowerhead 35 and lid 14 are in the down position as shown. However,when the showerhead 35/lid 14 are swivelled upwardly, the aperture 38 isrotated around and hot water is rerouted back into the fresh waterreservoir 12 to prevent any water flow out of the showerhead when it isin the up position. Although not shown, there is a further tube that isadjacent to the tube 60 that carries the fresh cold water from the freshwater reservoir 12 through the heater coil 61 to the hot water pipe 62as shown.

The brewed beverage tank 13 is made up of the filter basket 40 that hasan aperture 41 at the bottom of the filter basket to allow the infusedwater to drip into the reservoir portion 45 of the brewed beverage tank13. An outlet port 70 is the aperture through which the brewed beveragemay be allowed to exit the brewed beverage tank 13. The filter basket 40is conventional in structure and dimension in order to be easily usable.As is also evident from FIG. 4, the bottom of the reservoir portion 45slopes generally from the back of the coffeemaker (i.e., the fresh waterreservoir 12) to the front where the port 70 is fixed. Thisconfiguration allows full drainage out of the bottom towards the frontof the tank 13 where a user's cup may be easily placed for dispensing.

Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown one embodiment of adispenser actuator mechanism in accordance with the present invention.FIGS. 5 and 6 demonstrate the mechanism in the biased closed position(FIG. 5) and in the open position as when a cup 100 is pressing againstthe push button 21 (FIG. 6).

Push button 21 is connected to one end of lever 80. Lever 80 has a pivotpoint 81 that is a hinge mounted behind the front face 82 of the stand11. The opposite end 83 of the lever 80 protrudes through aperture 53(see FIG. 3) that makes up a portion of the platform 50 of the stand 11.A second lever 90 is mounted onto the bottom 76 of the brew tank 13. Thelever 90 has a first end 91 and a second end 93 that are on oppositeends with a pivot 92 mounted on the bottom portion 76. Further, a spring95 biases the first end 91 of the lever 90 downwardly so that the secondend 93 is biased in a downward position. Plug 94 is adapted to seal theoutlet port 70 of the brew tank 13. The plug 94 is connected to secondend 93 and is urged upwardly or downwardly based on the movement of thesecond end 93 of the second lever 90. In the closed position shown inFIG. 5, the spring 95 urges the first end 91 downwardly so that thesecond end 93 is urged downwardly. Accordingly, the plug 94 is securelysealed to the outlet port 70. Alternatively, as demonstrated in FIG. 6,end 83 of the first lever 80 urges the first end 91 of the second lever90 against the bias of the spring 95. This moves the second end 93 ofthe second lever 90 upwardly to thereby open the outlet port 70 andallow brewed beverage to flow out of the brew tank 13.

While the “two-piece” actuator illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 is onetype of cup-actuated dispensing means, there are, of course, alternativetypes of dispenser actuators. There are numerous types of electronicdispensers that are well known in the refrigerator door ice and waterdispensers. Similarly, other types of mechanical dispensers may bedesigned to accommodate the specific engineering needs of a given coffeemaker structure.

FIG. 7 displays further embodiments of the brew tank 113 and filterbasket 140. The filter basket 140 is different from the earlierdescribed filter basket 40 in that it includes a handle 141 for makingremoval very simple. Similarly, the alternative brew tank 113 includes ahandle 111 to facilitate handling. The brew tank 113 also has atransparent window 125 allowing a user to observe the brewed beveragevolume inside. A spout 112 improves the use of the brew tank as a freshwater bucket to transfer fresh water from a sink or other source andpour it into the fresh water reservoir 12. Finally, lip 114 is merely adesign variation of the hooks 140 which allow the brew tank 113 toengage the top of the fresh water reservoir walls 30 to secure the brewtank 113 in place once it is mounted on the platform 50. The maleportion 110 is the molded piece of the bottom of the brew tank 113 whichis received in the platform 50.

The present development includes a valve that closes the flow from areservoir wherein the lower end of the valve has a reduced area forcoffee or other brewed beverage to drip from. Specifically, the plugportion of the valve arm lever is made in the shape of a geometry thatenhances the efficient flow of liquid across the plug body.

FIGS. 8-11 illustrate an alternative dispenser actuator mechanism havingreduced drip properties. Turning first to FIGS. 8 and 9 and the variousviews of the lever arm portion of a dispenser actuator mechanism, thereis shown the lever arm 150. This lever arm 150 corresponds functionallyto the second lever 90 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The lever arm includes aplug 151. The plug 151 is made up of a seal ring 152 that is mountedonto a stem 153. (Alternatively, the seal ring 152 and stem 153 may be asingle, integral component.) The seal ring 152 is mounted on the top ofthe stem 153 in the groove 154 defined by the stem. The bottom of thestem 151 is a cone 155. The cone 155 has an inverted cone shape. In theopen position, liquid beverage flows around the plug 151, includingacross the conical portion 155. The plug 151 is carried on the end ofthe lever 150 by wing supports 160. The wing supports 160 are very thinso as to constitute little surface area that liquid may attach to whenthe liquid is draining through the outlet and across the surface of theplug 150.

FIGS. 10 and 11 demonstrate a complete dispenser actuator mechanism inoperation. In FIG. 10, the push button 170 is in its outwardly, biasedposition as a result of the spring 171. In this position, the secondlever arm component 150 is biased in its closed position where thesealing ring 152 closes the outlet port 180. The second lever 150 isbiased in this closed position by spring 185. As shown in FIG. 11, whenthe button 170 is pushed inwardly, the end of the first lever 172 pushesagainst the second lever 150 and moves the plug 152 upwardly. In thisway, liquid flows around the plug 152 and out of the reservoir.

In terms of physics, the demonstrated plug construction reduces drippagefrom the reservoir as a result of the inverted conical shape of the cone155 on the bottom of the stem 153 of the plug 151. This conical shapecreates less surface area on which the coffee may stick and then dripfrom once the valve is closed. Still further, this conical shapeincreases the laminer flow of the liquid out of the reservoir. Theperformance of the present construction is enhanced by a relativelystiff spring 170 holding the push button 170 in the closed, biasedposition. In this way, the first lever 172 does not block or hinder theoperation of the bias spring 185 in the second lever 150.

While the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations,modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and all suchvariations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as beingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A hot beverage maker comprising a stand and a brewed beverage tankwherein the brewed beverage tank comprises: a filter basket mountedinside the tank and in the top thereof; a reservoir portion of the tankunder the filter basket; and an outlet port positioned substantially atthe bottom of the tank; a dispenser actuator connected to the outletport and biased to a closed position, the dispenser actuator comprisinga plug, and the plug comprising a stem and a seal ring, wherein thebottom of the stem has a substantially inverted conical shape; whereinthe brewed beverage tank is removably mounted on the stand and is notpermanently fastened to the stand.
 2. A hot beverage maker as describedin claim 1, wherein the dispenser actuator comprises a push-buttonpositioned in the stand below the brewed beverage tank.
 3. A hotbeverage maker as described in claim 2, wherein the dispenser actuatorfurther comprises a linkage connecting the push-button to the outletport.
 4. A hot beverage maker as described in claim 1, furthercomprising a warmer plate positioned in the stand, wherein the brewedbeverage tank is adapted to be removably mounted on the warmer plate. 5.A hot beverage maker as described in claim 1, further comprising a freshwater chamber and an automatic drip mechanism for making the brewedbeverage, the automatic drip mechanism comprising a hot water showerheaddisposed above the filter basket and connected via a tube to the freshwater reservoir, wherein the showerhead is adapted to dispense waterinto the filter basket and brewed liquid drips from the filter basketinto the reservoir portion of the tank.
 6. A hot beverage maker asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the filter basket has a depth less thanthe depth of the tank.
 7. A dispenser actuator for a hot beverage maker,the actuator comprising a plug adapted to releasably close an outletport of a hot beverage maker, the plug comprising a stem and a sealring, wherein the bottom of the stem has a substantially invertedconical shape.
 8. A dispenser actuator as described in claim 7, furthercomprising a lever arm, with the plug mounted on one end of the leverarm.
 9. A dispenser actuator as described in claim 7, further comprisinga push-button adapted to be positioned in a hot beverage maker standbelow the outlet port.
 10. A dispenser actuator as described in claim 7,further comprising a linkage connecting the push-button to the plug. 11.A dispenser actuator as described in claim 7, wherein the stem and sealring are two different components, and the seal ring is mounted on thestem.